Knitting-machine.



J. BLACK.

KNITTING MACHINE. I APPLICATION TILED JUNE 25, 1906.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

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J. BLACK. KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1906.

Patented Aug. 31,1909.

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WITNESSES:

J. BLACK;

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 25, 1906.

J. BLACK.

KNITTING MACHINE.

I I I l I I I FIGJC 4 PPL IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 25. 1906.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909. 5 EEEEEEEEEEEE 4.

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JOSIAH BLACK, orlrn smrnrnm, rrnnsnvmm; ASSIGNOB r0 ELIZA VAUGHAN, or

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unwind-lineman.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 26, 1906. Serial No. 823,206.

TOgQZZ-fy/ZZLOM it may concern:

Be it known that I, os uu BLACK, of the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement. in Knitting-Machines, whereof the following-lisspecification," reference being .had to the accompanying drawings.

My improvement relates tocircular knitting machines of the class which are arranged to alternately knit plain, and ribbed J fabrics.

It is the object of my invention to provide a knitting machine, commonly known as a ribber, with means whereby the dial needles are shifted into the path of the cylinder needles to permit the latter to pass up through :the loops formed on said. dial needles, which are then retracted into idle position, thereby leaving their loops on the cylinder needles, which continue to operate independently of said dialneedles and thus E to knit plain fabric in continuous relation with the ribbed fabric.

My invention also, comprehends a, novelarrangement bf the dial needles whereby the loops Wli'fclr are carried by said dial needles are distended to permit thecylinder needles to readily'pass up through said loops, which are taken-thereby tq-iiermitthe free withdrawal of the dial needlestherefrom,

The form; of my invention hereinafter described comprisesa seriesof cylinderneedles, and a series of dial needles arranged to cooperate-therewith in knitting ribbed fabric,

means arranged to rotatably shift said dial needles substantially into the path-of said cylinder needles, and means arranged to abnormally shift said dial needles radially outward to stretch their loops 'beyondthe cylinder needles so as to permit the latter to in Fig. III showing the arrangement of the on the line XIIXII, in Fig. II. XIII, is a diagrammatic view of the fabric on a greatly enlarged scale.v

plan View showing the normal positions of the dial needles-with relation to the cylinder needles. Fig. VII, isa dia rammatic plan view showing the positions 0 the dial needles with relation to the cylinder needles when transferring theirloops. Fig. VIII, is a Patent d Au .31, 15509.

dial cams. Fig. -VI, 1s a, diagrammatic diagrammatic side elevation, showing the normal relation of the dial needles and the deflecting cam. Fig. IX, is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the coiiperative re-- lat-ion of the dial needlesand the deflecting fcam' whentransferring their loops. Fig. X,

is a perspective view comprising a dial needle and a cylinder needle in cooperative relation.to transfer the. loop. Fig. XI, is

a side elevation of a dial needle. Fig. XII,

is afragmentary plan sectional view taken In said figures, the bed M, 1, is sup- T ported on'suitable standards 2, and 3, and

carries the'rotatable cam cylinder 4:, and the stationary needle cylinder 5. The standard f3, co1npr-ises the bearing 7, and supports ;bracket 8-, having the bearing 9, in which 5 bearings the main driving shaft is suitably 'f'journaled. Said driving shaft carries the ::usual fast and loose pulleys 12, and 13, the hand wheel 14,.the bevel gear 15, which is arranged to rotate the cam cylinder'in the usual manner employed in such machines.

The cam cylinder 4, comprises the stand-' ards 18, and 19, supporting the yoke 20, from Zwhich is suspended the dial cam plate 21, arranged to rotate with said cam cylinder 4, and the dial needle plate 22, arranged to be retained normally in stationary relation with the needle cylinder 5, by the engagement Fig. 1

with the wing 23, on said plate 22, with the The standard 2, is provided With a suitable bearing for the pattern mechanism,

which comprises the ratchet Wheel 28, ar-

is pivoted on the reciprocatory slide bar 32.

g Said bar 32,,is arranged to be reciprocatedin accordance with the rotation of the machine, by the lever 35 which is pivoted at one end 36, to the bed plate 1, while its opposite free end is bifurcated and engages a in 37, on an adjustable piece 38, carried y the bar 32. The lever 35, is arranged to be osi lug 25, on the needle cylinder 5, as best 1 shown in Fig. IV.

j ranged to be rotated by the pawl 30, which cillated on its pivot 36, to reciprocate the mally rests on the pin 46, carried by the ratchet 28 and whose opposite end is pivoted on the stud 44, on the rocker arm 47 which is carried by the rockshaft 48, suitably journaled in the bracket 49, extending from the standard 2. Secured to said rock-- shaft 48, is the lever arm 50, whose free end extends into coiiperative relation with the high link 52, of the pattern chain 53, which is carried by the sprocket 54, which is carried on the shaft 200, which also carries a pinion 201, which engages the gear wheel 202, on the shaft 203, and is rotated in the direction of thearrow indicated in Fig. III, by the brush wheel 55, which is rotated by the fabric as it is drawn down from the cylinder in contact therewith. v i

The arts thus far described comprise a rib knitting machine ofwell known construction to which my invention hereinafter described is conveniently applied.

The dial plate 22, as abovestated is normally in stationary relation with the needle cylinder 5, but is capable of being slightly shifted rotatively as indicated by the arrow in Fig. IV, by the slight rotation of the vertical shaft 60, whose flattened head 61, engages the wing 24, on said dial plate 22, and rotates said plate sufficiently to shift each needle from its normal equidistant relation to the adjacent cylinder needles (shown diagrammatically in Fig. VI) into a position of lateral contact with one of the pair of said adjacent needles, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. VII.

The shaft 60, is rotatably supported in the sleeve bearing 62, which is secured, in rigid relation with the needle cylinder 5, to the bed plate 1, and is provided at its lower end with the lever arm 63, arranged to be shifted to rock said shaft, by engagement with the finger 64, which is secured on the slide rod 65. Said rod 65, is normally shifted to its extreme left hand position with respect to Fig. II by the coil spring 67 interposed between the collar 68, and the standard 3, and is provided at its left hand end with re spect to said frame, with the collar 70, having a radially extending lug 71, from which projects the pin ',72, extending through a suitable aperture in the standard 2, and having its outer end chamfered' to be engaged by the cam 75, on the ratchet wheel 28, and thereby shifted toward the right with respect to Figs. I and II, to shift the rod 65, in opposition to the tension of the spring 67.

As best shown in Fig. II, the shifting of the rod 65, to the right, will cause the finger 64-, to engage the lever arm 63, so as to rock the shaft 60, and to thereby rotatably shift the needle dial to the position wherein the dial needles and cylinder needles occupy the relative position shown in Fig. VII. In the new position of the dial, the dial needles are in such relation to the cylinder needles, as to make lateral contact therewith when the dial needles are protruded and the cylinder needles raised. The actuation of the dial needles for this purpose, (which may be termed their abnormal protrusion as distinguished from their normal protrusion in the act of knitting), is effected by means of the cams 80, 81, and 82, which are disposed on the opposite side of the dial from the ordinary knitting cam 140. Hence the abnormal protrusion of the dial needles occurs in the region opposite to the thread guide, so that no yarn is taken by the needles under these circumstances.

During the ordinary knitting of the. dial needles, the earns 80, 81, and 82, are maintained in their extreme inward position, as shown in the solid lines in Fig.' V, and hence of course, are not operative upon the necdles. To render said cams operative for abnormal protrusion of the dial needles, they are shifted outwardly into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. V, by means of the following devices. The cam 80, carries the piece 85, which is provided with a ledge 86,.bearing against the inner side of the free end of the cam 81. Said piece 85, also carries an outwardly projecting and downwardly depending hook 87 which overhangs the free end of the cam 82, so as to be capable of engagement therewith, on the outer side thereof. The piece 85, i provided with a stud 88, connected by means of the link 90, withthe lever arm 91, on the vertical rock shaft 92. Said rockshaft is normally rocked to the position shown in drawing, by the coiled spring 94, but is arranged to be rocked in opposition to the tension of said spring by the engagement of its cam arm 95, with the roller cani 100 which is arranged to be shifted into the path of said cam arm 95, as will be hereinafter described. It will thus be seen that the cams 81, and 82, can be shifted simultaneously outwardly by means of the ledge 86, into the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. V, and, conversely, the retraction of the piece 85, inwardly will, by means of the hook 8?, shift said cams 81, and 82, inward into the position shown in the solid lines in Fig. II.

As best shown in Fig. XII, cam arm 95, is provided with a notch 102, which is arranged to be engaged (when shifted to its abnormal position), by the hook 105, on the arm 106, carried by the rock shaft 107, which is normally'spring pressed to engage said hook with said notch when they are made to register by the rotation of the rock shaft 92, and thereby maintain sa-id shaft 92, in the position to protrude. the dial needles as shown in Fig. V'II,'by the arrangement of the cams 80, 81,:1nd 82, 'nsshown in dotted lines in Fig. V. Immediately following the engagement of the cam 75, with the pin 72,

the projection 114, also carried by the ratchet wheel 28, uplifts thelever-a'r'm 115, on the rock shaft 116, which nplifts the lever a'rm 117, whose free end disposed beneath the depending stem 1 18, of the roller earn 100, so that when said shaft 116, is rocked by the engagement ofisaid projection with the lever arm 115, the freeend of the lever arm 117, uplifts the earn 100, into the path of the cam arm 95, and shifts the latter toset the cams 80, 8'1, and 82, in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. V., As best shown in Fig. II, the stem 118, is provided with the adjusting screw 11-9, whereby the height of the cam 100, may be conveniently varied. In substantial correspondence with this abnormal protrusion of; the dialneedles for the purpose of distending their loops and permitting their removal, there occurs a sufficient advance of the cylinder needlesto enable them to come in contact with the dial needles and engage their loops. This advance of the cylinder needles is occasioned by the coaction of two cams in the cam cylinder (205 and 206,- Fig. III), of which the lower cam operates to advance the needles, and the upper cam to retract them to their normal position." The advance under the-.infiuence of the cam 206, need not be so reat an advance as normally occurs in orming the knitting stitch an need only be suflicient to cause the cylinder needles to pass up through the distended loop held bythe dial needle immediatel Y above it. The transfer of the loops is e ected as best shown in Fig. X, wherein the loop, 120, of the cylinder needle 121, is disposed beneath the projecting dial needle 122', through whose loop 124, the cylinder needle 121, has been thrust, so as may readily be seen, the withdrawal of the needles in the direction of the arrows indicated in said figure permits the release of the loop 124, from its dial needle 122, and

insures its engageinent in the hook of the cylinder 121 together with. theloop 120, so that the next succeeding loop 125, see Fig.

XIII, will be drawn'through both of said loops 120 and 124, and plain fabric 126, may be then knit on the cylinder needles in continuous relation with the'ribbed fabric 127.

The loop 124, is distended as shown in Fig. X, by engagement wit-lithe notch 132, in the upper edge of the dial needle 122, as best shown in Fig. XI, Said" dial needle 122, is provided with abeveled notch 133, to receive the cylinder needle. =121, as it rises through the loop 124.

ta-tively shifted by the movement In order to facilitate the transfer of the loop 124, into the cylinder dial 121, I prefer to provide a'deflecting finger 135-, which engages beneath the dial needles as they approach the region of transfer, and. springs them'upward for a short distance while the loop 124 is in engagement with the notch 132. As the dial needles ride off from the end of the finger 135, they snap down again to their normal plane, still carrying the loops 124, in engagement with said notch,

eration; first, the loop 124,-is elongated or enlarged; by its distortion from its normal plane, and second, the quick snapping ac tion tends to throw it more effectively onto the endof the cylinder needle, which is then Atwo-fold effect is accomplished by this opin the act of rising against the side of the "cam arms 146, and 147, are arranged to shiftthe cam 140, respectively outward or inward according to the vertical position of the roller earn .150. .The vertical position of said roller cam 150, is determined by the pins 152, on the ratchet 28, upon which pins the free end of the lever 153', on the rockshaft 48, rides.

Said rockshaft carries the.

arm 154, supporting the stem 156, of the roller cam150, and when the lever 153 is actuated to rock the shaft 48, so as to throw the'arm 154, upward, the roller cam 15.0, is raised. to the required operative position, the non-operative position being attained by the descent of the arm 154, when the shaft '48, is

permitted to rock in the opposite direction] In order to prevent the displacement of the fabric when the needle dial plate 22, is shifted, the needle cylinder 5. is providedv with a-series of notches 160, which are local t6 respective needles, as shown in Figs. II and III, so that whenixsaid needles are lowered the threads of?) their loops will be in their respective notches-160, and thereby prevent any tendency of the fabric tofbe rod 0 sex 1 needle dial plate.

The operation of themachine is as follows:Th.e ribbed knitting is proceeded.

with-until a predetermined length has been knit and drawn down in contact with the brush roller 55, by the take up mechanism (not shown). I'Vhen the required length of ribbed knitting has been formed, the pawl 30, drops into engagement with the ratchet 28, which is rotated thereby so as to engage its cam 75, with the dial plate shifting mechanism. The projection 114-, is also caused to engage with the lever arm 115, to uplift the cam 100, into the path of the cam arm 95 which controls the actuating mechanism of the cams 80, 81, and 82. The shifting movement of the dial plate (with the dial needles still held in their extreme retracted position), brings said needles into their altered position with relation to the cylinder needles, so that when again protruded, they will lie injuxtaposition to their corresponding cylinder needle. The protrusion of the cams 80, 81, and '82, throws the dial needles forward to their abnormal position of protrusion, which carries their loops into the path of the cylinder needles. The rapidity of the protrusion of the cams above mentioned is suchthat commencing with the first needle, which is in contact with its cam surface and in continuous succession thereafter, all of the dial needles are protruded to a position of engagement. Continued rotation of the machine successively carries the dial needles out to their extreme position, which permits transfer, after which they are again retracted by cam 82, into inactive position before they approach the thread guide. In

the meantime the dial stitch cam 140, which normally throws the dial needles out to take thread has been retracted, so that the dial needles are no longer advanced as they reach the thread guide, and therefore they perform no function in the knitting operation during the transfer operation.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention.

I claim 1. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a needle dial and a needle cylinder, provided with needles normally combination with a needle dial and a needlebylinder, provided with needles normally spaced in equi-distant alternation; of means. arranged to relatively shift said dial and cylinder, whereby the needles of one set are shifted into position to contact laterally with adjacent needles of the other set; and means for engaging the loop of'one. of the pair of contacting needles with the other, substantially as set forth.

3. In a V circular knitting machine, the

combination with a needle dial and needle cylinder provided with needles normally spaced in equi-distant alternation; of means arranged to relatively oscillate said dial and cylinder, whereby the needles of one set are shifted into position to contact laterally with adjacent needles of the other set; and means for transferring the loop of one of the pair of contacting needles to the other, substantially as set forth.

4. In a circular knittin machine, the combination with a needle dlal and a needle cylinder, provided with needles; of means arranged to relatively shift said'dial and cylinder, whereby the loops formed on one set of needles may be engaged by the other; and means arranged to distend said loops,

to facilitate said engagement, substantially the needlesof one set to be engaged by the needles of the other set, substantially as set forth.

6. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a needle dial and a needle cylinder provided with needles; of a pattern mechanism; and means carried by said pattern mechanism arrangedto relatively shift said dial and cylinder, whereby the needles of one set are shifted to laterally contact with the needles of the other set, so that the loops formed on one set of needles may be transferred to the other, and the operation thus changed from ribbed knitting to plain knitting, substantially as set forth.

7. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a needle dial and a needle cylinder provided with needles; of a pattern mechanism; means carried by said pattern mechanism, arranged to relatively shift said dial and cylinderfand means carried by said pattern mechanism arranged to abnormally protrude one set of needles and thereby distend their loops in position to be engaged by the other set of needles, substantially as set forth.

8. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a needle dial and a needle cylinder provided with needles; notches in said needles, of a pattern mechanism; means carried by said pattern mechanism arranged to relatively shift said dial and cylinder; means carried by said pattern mechanism arran ed to, abnormally-project said needles,

gagement of said distended loops by their on the other set ofneedles which continue to cooperative needles, substantially as set forth.

9. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a needle dial and a needle cylinder provided with needles; of a pattern 1 mechanism; a cam carried by said pattern mechanism; a slide rod arranged to be shift- 1 ed by said cam; a rockshaft connecting said 5 slide rod and said dial whereby the latter is l oscilla.:ed relatively to-said cylinder to shift the dial needles and cylinder needles into E alinement; and, means arranged to abnormally project said needles and thereby distend their loops to be engaged by their col operative needles. substantially as set forth.

10. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a needle dial and a needle cylinder provided with needles; of a pattern mechanism; a cam carried by said pattern mechanism; a slide'rod arranged to be shifted by said cam; a rockshaft connecting said slide rod and said dial whereby the latter is oscillated relatively to said cylinder to shift the dial needles and cylinder needles into alinemcnt; a projection carried by said pattern mechanism; a lever arranged to be shifted by engagement with said projection; a cam a1"anged to be shifted by the movement of said lever; means controlled by said cam. whereby the needles are projected to distend their loops, which are engaged by their cooperative needles, substantially as set forth.

11. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a needle dial and a needle cylinder, provided with needles; of means arranged to relatively shift said dial and cylinder whereby the paths of their needles may intersect; means arranged to simultaneously project the cooperative needles to engage the loops of one set of needles with the other set of needles; and means arranged to withdraw one set of needles into inoperative position and thereby leave their loops knit plain fabric, substantially as set forth.

12. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a needle dial and a needle cylinder,'provided with needles; of a notch in the edge of the dial needles; means ar ranged to project said dial needles and thereby distend their loops by engagement with said notch, to permit the adjacent cooperative needles to be thrust through said loops; and means arrangedvto radually deflect the outer ends of said needles and then permit their sudden return to their normal plane, to facilitate the disengagement of their loops from said notch, substantially as set forth.

13. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a needle dial and a needle cylinder. provided with needles; of a notch in the edge of the dial needles; 1neans arranged to project said dial needles and thereby distend their 'loops'by engagement with said notch, to permit the adjacent cooperative needles to be thrust through said loops: and a cam plate arranged to gradually deflect the outer ends of said needles and then permit their sudden return to their normal plane. to facilitatethe disengagement of their loops from said notch. sub.- stantially as set forth.

14. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a needle dial and a needle cylinder. provided with needles; of means arranged to relatively shift said dial and cylinder, whereby the needles of one set are shifted to laterally contact with adjacent needles of the other set: means for engaging the loop of one of the pair of contacting needles with the other, and means arranged to prevent the displacement of the loops held by said needles, substantially as set' fort-h.

15. In a circular knittin machine, the combination with a needle dlal and a needle cylinder, provided with needles; of means arranged to relatively shift said dial and cylinder, whereby the needles of one set are shifted to laterally contact with adjacent needles of the other set; means for engaging the loop of one of the pair of contactin needles with the other; and notches dispose in the upper edge of the needle cylinder arranged to prevent the displacement of the loops held by said needles, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- Vania, this 22nd day of June 1906.

' JOSIAH BLACK. lVitnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, CLIFTON' C. HALLOWELL. 

